Universal electrical connector



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no A 0 iv 5 a ,a Q 4 1 i R 8 a. 9% Q9 ag NA mg Q Q United States Patent 3,398,388 UNIVERSAL ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Weichien Chow, Park Forest, 111., assignor to Ampheuol Corporation, Broadview, 11]., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 2, 1966, Ser. No. 577,037 13 Claims. (Cl. 3349) The present invention relates to a universal electrical connector, of the type wherein one of the connector parts can be connected to another connector part identical in construction with itself. Each connector part can be converted to a male part, or plug, or a female part, or socket.

The connector of the invention is particularly adaptable to a co-axial transmission line which includes an inner and an outer conductor. In such lines radio frequency leakage has heretofore been a serious problem, and attempts at preventing that leakage have not been entirely successful. In such a line the outer tubular conductor presents a contact surface which extends through the perimeter of a great area and accordingly it has been difficult to establish perfect contact engagement between two such contact areas in the connected lines. However in the present instance the invention substantially overcomes such difficulty by providing secure connection between those contacts surfaces, and uniform and accurate engagement throughout the areas thereof. This feature of the invention is particularly advantageous in the case of an outer tubular conductor where the contact area extends to the limits of a great area.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel construction of connector in which the contact surface of the outer tubular conductor lies in a plane transverse to its axis, whereby to more effectively establish uniform and accurate contact engagement between the outer conductors of the connected parts.

Another and more specific object is to provide a connector of the foregoing general character made up of parts in which each part includes a male element projectable outwardly to active position and retractable inwardly to inactive position, and each part in capable of being connected in another connector part of identical construction, where, in one of the parts the male element is in active position and in the other part in inactive position.

An additional object is to provide a connector of the character just referred to in which the male element is in the form of a tubular sleeve surrounding the outer tubular conductor, and an actuator member is in the form of a nut surrounding the male element and thereby effective for establishing secure engagement with, and uniformly around, the male element of the opposite connector part, for thereby establishing uniform contact engagement between the contact areas of the conductors of the connector parts.

Still another object is to provide a connector of the character referred to in which when the male element is in retracted position it is entirely free of engagement with the actuator member whereby to enable unencumbered securement between the actuator member and male element of the cooperating connector part.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a connector of the foregoing character which is quickly and easily connected and disconnected.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following detail description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein FIGURE 1 is a view partially in section and partially in elevation showing a connector made according to the present invention and illustrating a stetp preliminary to the actual connecting operation;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded view of the elements making up the outer portion of one connector part;

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FIGURE 3 is a view showing the upper part of FIG- URE 1 and indicating a step of the connecting operation;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 showing various elements in different positions;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURES 3 and 4 showing various elements in other positions;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURES 3, 4 and 5 showing various elements in still different positions; and

FIGURE 7 is an end view of the central portion of a connector part, taken at line 77 of FIGURE 1.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, attention is directed first to FIGURE 1 showing a connector embodying the features of the present invention and including a pair of identical connector parts in position preliminary to the connecting operation. Since the connector parts are identical in construction in accordance with the main feature of the invention, a description of one of the parts will suffice for both and the various elements of the connector parts will be given identical reference numerals but identified as right and left in making reference to either as distinguished from the other.

The connector parts are indicated at 10 and each is connected to or mounted on a transmission line 12 which includes an inner conductor 14 and an outer tubular conductor 16 co-axial therewith. These conductors in themselves may be of any desired construction, the inner conductor for example including a filament 18 forming a body having an end surface 20 in which is formed a threaded aperture 22, the end surface forming a shoulder. An adapter 24 is secured to the body 18 having a relatively large outer part 26 and a reduced portion 28 forming an inwardly facing shoulder 30 therebetween. The reduced portion 28 has a portion 32 threaded in the bore 32.

The outer part 26 is provided with a bore 34 in which is fitted a contact adapter 36 of presently known construction, having an end contact face 38 inwardly of which is an exterior inclined camming surface 49 engageable with a concave conical camming surface 42 formed in the bore 34. Reference to this construction will be referred to again hereinbelow.

The outer conductor 16 includes a main or body portion 43 having at its end a reduced diameter portion 44 threaded at 46 to be referred to again hereinbelow, and having an end surface 48 forming a shoulder.

The connector part 10 also includes a connector body 50, a coupler sleeve mounting 52, a coupler sleeve or male element 54 and an outer actuating member or nut 56, all of generally tubular form. The connector body is provided with an outer-end reduced portion having an annular end face 61 forming the contact surface of the conductor 16, and a bore 62 which may be of the same diameter as the bore of the main portion 43. The connector body 50 is provided with an inwardly facing shoulder 64 between the bore 62 and a counter bore 66, the latter merging into another counter bore 68 receiving the reduced end portion 44 of the body 43. Rearwardly of the counter bore '68 is another, threaded counter bore 70 threadedly secured on the threads 46. The exterior surface of the connector body 59 includes an outer surface 72 at its axially outer end inwardly of which is a shoulder 74, beyond which is an exteriorly threaded portion 76, and inwardly of that a cylindrical portion 78. The latter extends to a shoulder 81} beyond which is a larger diameter cylindrical surface 82 leading into a shoulder 84 formed on the axially outer end of an enlargement 86.

A dielectric support 87 is provided between the conductors 14 and 16, in the form of an annular insulating member of suitable material, such as rubber, and fitted with outer and inner metal bushings 88 and 89 utilized for facilitating putting it in the assembly. The dielectric support is gripped between the shoulders 48 and 64 in the outer conductor and the shoulders and in the inner conductor. The line of conduction in the inner conductor 14 is from the body 18 to the adapter 24 and contact adapter 36 to the contact surface 38 in the latter; in the outer conductor 16, it is from the body 43 t0 the connector body to the contact surface 61.

The coupler sleeve mounting 52 is in the form of a nut disposed exteriorly of the connector body 50, and includes an axially outer end portion having axial apertures 91 for receiving the pins of a spanner wrench for assembling the element in the coupling. The enlarged portion 90 has a bore 92 inwardly of which is a shoulder 93. Inwardly of the shoulder 93 is an internally threaded section 94 receiving the threaded section 76 and inwardly of this threaded section is a cylindrical bore 95 dimensioned for slidably receiving the surface 78 of the connector body 50, the inner end forming a shoulder 96. The coupler sleeve mounting 52 is provided with an axial keyway 97 the ends of which form shoulders 98 and 99, the keyway receiving a key 100 fitted in the coupler sleeve or male element 54. The latter has an inner reduced diameter portion 102 having an end surface 104 serving as a shoulder or abutment, a counter bore 106 and an axially outwardly facing shoulder 108 opposed to an inwardly facing shoulder 109 on the enlargement 90. The coupler sleeve 54 has exterior threads 110 from adjacent its outer end inwardly a substantial extent.

The outer actuator member or nut 56 has a reduced portion 112 having a bore 114 receiving the connector body 50. This reduced portion has an axially inwardly facing shoulder 116 opposed to the shoulder 84 and adapted to engage the latter at times. The nut 56 has a counter bore 118 defining an outwardly facing shoulder 120 adapted to engage the opposed facing end shoulder 96 of the coupler sleeve mounting 52. Adjacent the axially outer end of the bore 118 are internal threads 122 adapted to engage the threads 110 on the coupler sleeve 54 in a manner described hereinbelow.

The nut 56 has limited axial movement between the shoulders 84 and 96. The coupler sleeve 54 has axial sliding movement, limited by the ends of the keyway 97. Upon rotation of the nut 56 the coupler sleeve 54 is worked outwardly or inwardly as limited by the keyway, as indicated. In turning the sleeve 54 inwardly, the shoulder 120 of the nut works against the shoulder 96 and in tuming the sleeve outwardly it works at the opposite end of its range, with the shoulder 116 working against the shoulder 84. The full inner position of the sleeve 54 is shown in FIGURE 1, while its full outer position is shown in FIGURE 3. The dimensions and proportions of the various elements are such that in projecting the sleeve 54, it is worked outwardly until the shoulder 108 engages the shoulder 109, the nut 56 in this case working against the shoulder 84. A firm and non yielding condition is thus attained, as indicated in FIGURE 3 in which the sleeve 54 extends axially beyond the end contact surface 61 of the outer conductor 16. Such a condition is represented in FIGURE 3 in the left connecttor part while in the right connector part the sleeve 54 is in its opposite, full inner, or inactive, position. In the latter case the right nut 56 has been turned up with the shoulder 120 engaging the shoulder 96, the sleeve 54 having been retracted until the threads 110 thereof pass beyond the threads 122 on the nut. The sleeve 54 is then floating between the shoulder 98 and the threads 122.

In such a condition the connector parts, they may be connected, as indicated in FIGURES 3 and 4. With the sleeve 54 projected in one of the connectors, as in the left one, the connector of the opposite line, or the right one, is fitted to left one with the right coupling sleeve mounting 52 inserted into the left sleeve 54. T hereupon the right connector nut 56 is threaded onto the left sleeve 54 until the two end contact surfaces 61 engage each other, the shoulder 120 of the right connector nut working against the end 96 of the coupler sleeve mounting. The force thus applied draws the coupler parts together until the contact surfaces 61 firmly engage each other completely and accurately therearound, the threaded connection between the elements providing accurate and uniform drawing power on the connector parts. i

In the connecting operation the inserts 36 in the inner conductor 14 are forced axially inwardly, the members yielding to enable the desired firm contact between the surfaces 61 While still maintaining good contact between themselves. The dimensions of the various elements are so preselected that when the connecting step just described is completed the connector nuts 56 are slightly separated from each other, to enable firm engagement of the outer conductors 16. However secure connection is provided by the engagement by the shoulder 108 in the left sleeve 54 with the shoulder 109, and the shoulder 120 in the right nut 56 with the shoulder 96 of the coupler sleeve mounting 52. Thereupon the left nut 56 ceases to perform any holding function and it may then be turned up into tight engagement with the right nut 56,if desired, to fully enclose the interior elements, but this last step is not essential.

In such connected condition the right sleeve 54, which is in inactive position, is free of any s'ecurement contact with its associated nut 56 so that the latter has full and unencumbered freedom for securement to the left sleeve 54. Connecting the connector parts together is easily accomplished, there being no special skill or deftness required. To disconnect the connector, the nuts 56 are simply grasped and turned in opposite directions, to the left, and that nut which has been in the connecting position is merely backed off of the sleeve 54, while the other nut merely turns idly, or not at all. The dimensions and proportions are such that the nut 56 is limited to a range of axial movement in which the outer end thereof is always adjacent the plane of the contact surface 61, that range preferably extending to both sides of that plane. When the nut is outermost, and the sleeve 54 innermost, the threads 110 and 122 are disconnected and the sleeve can float, as referred to, while when the nut is moved inwardly, the threads re-engage and the sleeve is moved outwardly upon turning of the nut.

The threaded engagement between the respective elements of the two connector parts establishes full, uniform and accurate securement entirely around the connector so that the end surfaces 61 of the outer conductor 16 are in full and accurate interengagement, without interference from any other source or forces.

FIGURE 6 shows the connector parts connected but in the opposite sense, i.e., the right coupler sleeve 52 extended to active position and the left nut 56 connected thereto, while the left connector sleeve is retracted to inactive position, exemplifying the universality of the connector.

While I have disclosed herein a preferred form of the invention, it will be understood that changes may be made therein within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A connector part of the character disclosed comprising a conductor having an end contact surface, a male element movable between an active position axially outwardly beyond said contact surface and an inactive position axially inwardly removed from the contact surface, and an actuator member operative on actuation thereof for moving the male element between its said positions, and operative, when the male element is in its inactive position, for connection with the male element in active position of another like connector part.

2. The invention set out in claim 1 wherein the male element is independent of the function of conducting through the connector part.

3. The invention set out in claim 1 wherein the male element includes a tubular sleeve and the actuator "memher includes an outer tubular member surrounding the male element, and operative for engaging the male element of the other connector part at a plurality of points distributed therearound.

4. The invention set out in claim 3 wherein the connection between the male element and the actuator member is a continuous screw threaded connection.

5. The invention set out in claim 1 wherein the conductor is tubular in form and the end contact surface thereof is of annular shape lying in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the conductor, the male element is in the form of a sleeve surrounding the conductor and the actuator member is also a tubular form surrounding the male element and having screw threaded connection therewith.

6. The invention set out in claim -1 wherein said male element is a sleeve surrounding the conductor and is mounted on the conductor for limited free axially slid ing movements but confined against rotation relative thereto, and the actuator member is in the form of a nut surrounding the male element and having screw threaded connection therewith, and the male element, when in retracted inactive position, is free of screw threaded connection with the actuator member but confined therewithin.

7. The invention set out in claim 3 wherein the connection between the male element and the actuator member is a screw threaded connection, said actuator member is in the form of an outer nut surrounding the male element, and means is provided limiting axial movement of the nut relative to the conductor to a range in which the axially outer end of the nut is always closely adjacent the plane containing said contact surface.

8. The invention set out in claim 7 wherein the threads on the male element extending axially a distance substantially greater than on said outer nut, and when the male element when in inactive position and the outer nut is projected axially outwardly, the threads of those two members are out of interengagement and the male element is confined within the nut but with limited axial movement relative thereto, but when the outer nut is moved axially inwardly the threads thereon engage the threads on the male element.

9. The invention set out in claim 8 wherein the construction includes a shoulder against which the outer nut reacts in moving the male member to active position, and includes another shoulder against which the male element engages at the end of such outward movement, and the axially outer end of the outer nut, in such position of the male element, is axially inwardly of said contact surface.

10. A connector construction of the character disclosed comprising an inner conductor having a connecting end, means forming a first end contact surface on the inner conductor lying in a transverse plane, an outer tubular conductor concentric with the inner conductor, an

annular insulator ring between the conductors and supporting them in spaced relation, the outer conductor having an annular end contact surface lying in a transverse plane adjacent the plane of the first end contact surface, a connector sleeve surrounding the outer conductor and fixed against rotational movement thereon but being slidable thereon between an outer active position in which it extends axially beyond said end contact surfaces and an inner inactive position in which it is positioned entirely axially inwardly from said end contact surfaces, and an outer actuator nut surrounding said connector sleeve and operative upon rotation for moving the sleeve between its active and inactive positions, means enabling limited axial movement of the nut along the conductors, the nut being operative, when the male element is in its inactive position, for connection with the male element in active position of another like connector part.

11. The invention set out in claim 10 wherein each the inner conductor and the outer conductor is made of sections releasably secured together, and the sections of each conductor have opposed shoulders gripping the respective marginal edge of the insulator ring.

12. The invention set out in claim 10 wherein one of the end contact surfaces is fixed and the other is yieldable from a normal position axially outwardly beyond the first contact surface, whereby upon connection of the connector part with another like connector part, the yieldable contact surfaces of the two connector parts yield whereby to enable the fixed contact surfaces to interengage, and wherein the two contact surfaces lie substantially in a common plane when the connector parts are connected.

13. The invention set out in claim 11 wherein the members forming the outer conductor include an outer member having an outer end surface forming the end contact surface of that conductors and having an axially inner end forming a shoulder limiting the axially inward move ment of the outer connector nut, wherein a coupler sleeve mounting is provided surrounding said outer member of the outer conductor and providing shoulders limiting axial movement of the connector sleeve.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 658,692 9/1900 Williams 285-12 869,662 10/ 1907 Snyder 28512 2,409,650 10/ 1946 Wiggins 33991 XR 2,793,352 5/1957 Bird 33989 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 898,940 6/1962 Great Britain. 170,171 9/ 1934 Switzerland.

MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner.

PATRICK A. CLIFFORD, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A CONNECTOR PART OF THE CHARACTER DISCLOSED COMPRISING A CONDUCTOR HAVING AN END CONTACT SURFACE, A MALE ELEMENT MOVABLE BETWEEN AN ACTIVE POSITION AXIALLY OUTWARDLY BEYOND SAID CONTACT SURFACE AND AN INACTIVE POSITION AXIALLY INWARDLY REMOVED FROM THE CONTACT SURFACE, AND AN ACTUATOR MEMBER OPERATIVE ON ACTUATION THEREOF FOR MOVING THE MALE ELEMENT BETWEEN ITS SAID POSITIONS, AND OPERATIVE, WHEN THE MALE ELEMENT IS IN ITS INACTIVE POSITION, FOR CONNECTION WITH THE MALE ELEMENT IN ACTIVE POSITION OF ANOTHER LIKE CONNECTOR PART. 